Head of Quality Improvement & Academic Standards

North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT); Epsom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site gym access

Free online qualifications

Free parking on-site

Starbucks on-site

Staff development opportunities

Job summary

North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT) is seeking an experienced HE quality professional to lead the college's quality improvement framework and annual quality cycle. You will advise senior leaders on quality performance, risk and capacity to improve, share best practice through workshops and communities of practice, and oversee Self-Assessment Reports and Quality Improvement Plans.

Using performance data and learner voice, you will identify strengths, gaps, and priorities, ensure

Qualifications

• Experience of managing Higher Education quality processes either with an HEI or HE in FE.
• Significant experience of managing academic standards, governance and regulatory compliance.
• Experience of supporting and challenging managers to improve quality.
• Strong analytical capability and ability to use data and evidence to drive improvement.
• Excellent report‑writing and presentation skills.
• Teaching qualification or substantial teaching and learning experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the College's quality improvement framework and annual quality cycle
• Advise senior leaders of quality performance, risk and capacity to improve
• Share best practice through workshops, peer learning, teaching forums, and communities of practice
• Lead the production, implementation and evaluation of Self-Assessment Reports, Quality Improvement Plans and associated reviews
• Use performance data, learner voice and quality evidence to identify strengths, gaps and priorities for improvement
• Ensure compliance with academic standards, quality codes and regulatory conditions including OfS, QAA, OIA, awarding bodies and PSRB requirements as applicable
• Lead and oversee academic quality processes including validations, re-validations, exam boards, external examining and external quality review activity
• Play a central role in preparation for inspection, review and external quality actvitity
• Lead and coordinate quality-related CPD and staff development activity
• Support managers in addressing underperformance through structured, evidence-based improvement processes
• Ensure timely and accurate production of quality reports for senior leaders, governors and external bodies
• Line manage staff within the quality improvement and academic standards remit

Skills

Quality management

Governance

Data analysis

Report writing

Presentation skills

Teaching experience

Education

Teaching qualification

Job description

What we are looking for:

(please refer to Person Specification for full list of criteria)

• Experience of managing Higher Education quality processes either with an HEI or HE in FE.
• Significant experience of managing academic standards, governance and regulatory compliance.
• Experience of supporting and challenging managers to improve quality.
• Strong analytical capability and ability to use data and evidence to drive improvement.
• Excellent report‑writing and presentation skills.
• Teaching qualification or substantial teaching and learning experience.

Duties/responsibilities:

(please refer to Job Description for full list of duties and responsibilities)

• Lead and coordinate the College's quality improvement framework and annual quality cycle
• Advise senior leaders of quality performance, risk and capacity to improve
• Share best practice through workshops, peer learning, teaching forums, and communities of practice
• Lead the production, implementation and evaluation of Self-Assessment Reports, Quality Improvement Plans and associated reviews
• Use performance data, learner voice and quality evidence to identify strengths, gaps and priorities for improvement
• Ensure compliance with academic standards, quality codes and regulatory conditions including OfS, QAA, OIA, awarding bodies and PSRB requirements as applicable
• Lead and oversee academic quality processes including validations, re-validations, exam boards, external examining and external quality review activity
• Play a central role in preparation for inspection, review and external quality actvitity
• Lead and coordinate quality-related CPD and staff development activity
• Support managers in addressing underperformance through structured, evidence-based improvement processes
• Ensure timely and accurate production of quality reports for senior leaders, governors and external bodies
• Line manage staff within the quality improvement and academic standards remit

Benefits

• A discounted on-site gym, sports hall, fitness class, Starbucks, osteopathy and day nursery
• 5-minute walk from Ewell East Station
• Free online qualifications
• Free parking on-site

Nescot is graded 'Good' by Ofsted following its latest inspection in January 2023. Inspectors rated the College as Good in all 8 aspects. The report recognises that students "enjoy their courses and are motivated to succeed", and benefit from "highly supportive relationships" with staff. Safeguarding arrangements are "effective" with regular training for staff, and leaders have in place "an effective policy for safer recruitment."

At Nescot, we're proud of our inclusive culture and we welcome all applications.

This college is a smoke-free campus—smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on campus.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and criminal record checks (enhanced DBS clearance).

Closing date 8th October 2026 (we reserve the right to close this advert earlier than advertised)

Interview date expected to be 14th October 2026